Walnut group gathers outside bill signing to protest NFL stadium plan

INDUSTRY - About 150 of Southern California's most powerful people gathered Thursday on what was once a cow pasture.

Under a bright blue sky and taking in a panoramic view of the San Gabriel Mountains, they stood among the sun- dried weeds and witnessed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sign legislation paving the way for an NFL stadium.

Separated from the action by a chain-link fence and armed deputies, a group of less than a dozen protestors from nearby Walnut held up signs and decried the action.

"Arnold SHAME ON YOU!," read one sign.

"STOP THE STADIUM," read another.

The group, led by Walnut resident Brigid Bjerke, consists of eight citizens challenging developer Edward Roski Jr.'s plan to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles.

Earlier this month the group refused to settle its lawsuit against the project.

The state Legislature stepped in and sent a bill to Schwarzenegger exempting the project from the California Environmental Quality Act, nullifying the citizens' lawsuit.

As a result, officials claim Roski and his Majestic Realty Co. will be able to build a 75,000-seat NFL stadium at the site and in the process create between 12,000 and 18,000 new jobs. Many of those would go to workers in union trades.

As he prepared to sign the bill Thursday, the governor - flanked by hard-hatted representatives from several union locals, politicians and Roski employees - had some choice words for the protestors.

"These people presented an $800 million wish list of demands that have little to do with the environment," Schwarzenegger said. "I'm here to terminate the frivolous lawsuit and start construction."

State Assemblyman Isadore Hall III, D-Compton, who authored the legislation, went a step further. He termed the lawsuit "abuse" and "extortion." He went on to say that the state legislature doesn't take CEQA laws lightly, but added these are "extraordinary times."

Roski was more diplomatic.

"There are times that because of no good reason people issue challenges," he said. "We had to move forward."

After signing the bill and some footballs Schwarzenegger shook hands with many of the people gathered at his side.

Then the governor, his security team and advance men pushed through the crowd and left in a phalanx of dark SUVs with tinted windows. On their way out, the group passed Bjerke's group.

Pointing to a group of homes down the hill and a half-mile away, Bjerke said she and her neighbors will be inconvenienced by the stadium. She worries about traffic, crime and lowered property values.

"We're just a group of local citizens expressing our First Amendment freedom of speech," Bjerke said. "This is happening because someone with money came out of nowhere and paid off the politicians. I did not learn this in civics class."